L'Affaire Maurizius (1954)

18 years after a man (Daniel Gelin) has been convicted of the murder of his wife (Madeleine Robinson), the 16 year old son (Jacques Chabassol) of the prosecuting attorney (Charles Vanel) who helped convict him is determined to prove the man's innocence. Based on the 1928 novel by Jakob Wassermann and directed by Julien Duvivier (PEPE LE MOKO). This startlingly bleak film is structured in the form of a mystery. But even after we discover the truth of what happened the night of the murder, we get no satisfaction. Its characters, both guilty and innocent, have all suffered and been punished in some way or other. There is no catharsis. If this film were made today, I've no doubt a "happy" ending would have been tacked on, its cynicism almost too much to bear. It's the ultimate "no one wins" movie. The acting is quite good with an odd performance by Anton Walbrook (THE RED SHOES) as a witness who may or may not have perjured himself. There's a strong underscore by Georges Van Parys. With Eleonora Rossi Drago, Berthe Bovy and Denis D'Ines.